“The best thing about this league is you get to have fun with it as well, you can try different things you might have wanted to try in the NHL” - Steve Ott
Many people in the hockey world would look at the move from the assistant spot in the NHL to a head coaching spot in the American Hockey League as a step down. It’s not the typical path for coaches eyeing the NHL job, and usually, a coach who takes that path is doing so because they are betting on themself.
When the St. Louis Blues told Steve Ott about the opportunity, he pounced at it, becoming the Springfield Thunderbirds head coach halfway through the season. “I’ve been interviewing for head coaching jobs for the past few years, and the only thing missing is a head coaching position,” Ott mentioned in a conversation with The Hockey News. This move to the AHL was about removing any doubt that he can coach in the NHL.
The job Ott has done with the Thunderbirds is impressive. While they aren’t the best team, and might still miss the playoffs at the end of the season, he’s put them in a position to make the playoffs and has them playing the right way at the right time.
How Ott Changed Springfield
The Thunderbirds play with purpose and structure. In the first half of the season, they created offense by causing chaos and rushing the puck up the ice towards the net. They played a basic north-south style with an aggressive mindset, which had its pros and cons.
Instead, Ott has them moving the puck with a plan in place. The Thunderbirds look for that extra pass and play with more possession and focus. On top of that, Ott has tinkered with the offense to design plays to generate more scoring chances.“ The best thing about this league is you get to have fun with it as well, you can try different things you might have wanted to try in the NHL,” he noted after the five-goal game against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
This structure has also helped the Thunderbirds out on the defensive end. They don’t give up many scoring chances the other way, and they have a structure in place to defend. “There’s so much turnover in your lineup every night, and when you have that turnover, you’re constantly teaching and developing and constantly making sure they’re structured and detailed,” Ott added on the importance of teaching structure to the team. It’s turned them into a complete team and one that can make the playoffs with the way they are playing.
Ott is Leaning on Springfield’s Best Players
Every team wants to roll four even lines, or at least that’s what every coach says they want. Ott realizes where the strengths of the Thunderbirds are, and he’s leaned into them. Whether it’s the last change or giving his top line more ice time, Ott is turning to his best players for wins.
Speaking of the top line, the Aleksanteri Kaskimaki, Dillon Dube, and Chris Wagner trio has fueled the offense. While Dube and Wagner are two veterans who have been around the AHL for a while, Kaskimaki is the prospect who has made significant strides with the Thunderbirds, scoring 16 goals and adding 18 assists while making an impact in all three zones. Together, the line has contributed 102 combined points while forming a line that’s tough to stop.
“What’s good about that line is the 200-foot game that they have,” Ott stated. All three forwards are known for their offense but they also step up defensively and let their defense set up the offense. “They play the right way,” Ott added.
Springfield is Still in the Fight But Ott Has Them Playing Right
The Thunderbirds are still in a battle. Their win over the Phantoms has them tied for the final playoff spot and sitting four points behind the fifth-place Bridgeport Islanders, so they are still in a fight for the final playoff spots in the Atlantic Division.
However, the Thunderbirds are playing the right way down the stretch. They can win games and secure a playoff spot, even with a tough schedule ahead of them. “When you have a team that’s hungry like we are, that’s trying to get better and really believing that process, it’s really easy to coach them,” Ott noted.
This season has boosted Ott’s resume. The Thunderbirds struggled early on this season and weren’t a good team. They also traded against Matthew Peca and Matt Luff midway through the season, moves expected to make them worse. Instead, the Thunderbirds have gotten better, and it’s a credit to the job Ott has done.